Twisted pair communication cables having limited colorant

Abstract

Twisted pair communication cables that include reduced or minimal use of colorant may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, and the respective insulation formed around each conductor included in the plurality of twisted pairs may not be blended or compounded with any colorant. Physical indicia may be selectively formed on respective outer surfaces of the insulation of at least two of the plurality of twisted pairs. The physical indicia may include colorant that occupies less than 5.0% of a surface area of the insulation on which it is formed, and the physical indicia facilitate identification of the plurality of twisted pairs. A jacket may formed around the plurality of twisted pairs.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A cable, comprising:
 a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, wherein the respective insulation formed around each conductor included in the plurality of twisted pairs comprises one or more first polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant; 
 physical indicia selectively formed on respective outer surfaces of the insulation of at least two of the plurality of twisted pairs, the physical indicia comprising colorant that occupies less than 5.0% of a surface area of the insulation on which it is formed, wherein the physical indicia facilitate identification of the plurality of twisted pairs; and 
 a jacket formed around the plurality of twisted pairs, wherein the jacket comprises one or more second polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant. 
 
     
     
       2. The cable of  claim 1 , wherein the physical indicia is selectively formed on only a single conductor within any given twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs. 
     
     
       3. The cable of  claim 1 , wherein the physical indicia comprise one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
       4. The cable of  claim 1 , wherein the physical indicia comprise one of (i) dots or (ii) stripes. 
     
     
       5. The cable of  claim 1 , wherein the physical indicia comprise:
 a first physical indicia formed from a first colorant on the insulation of a first conductor of a first twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs; and 
 a second physical indicia formed from the first colorant on the insulation of a second conductor of a second twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs, wherein the second physical indicia is visibly distinct from the first physical indicia. 
 
     
     
       6. The cable of  claim 1 , wherein the physical indicia comprise:
 a first physical indicia formed from a first colorant on the insulation of a first conductor of a first twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs; and 
 a second physical indicia formed from a second colorant different than the first colorant on the insulation of a second conductor of a second twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs. 
 
     
     
       7. The cable of  claim 1 , wherein the physical indicia further facilitate identification of the individual conductors included in each of the plurality of twisted pairs. 
     
     
       8. The cable of  claim 7 , wherein the physical indicia comprise physical indicia selectively formed on respective outer surfaces of the insulation of each of the plurality of twisted pairs. 
     
     
       9. A cable, comprising:
 a plurality of twisted pairs, each of the twisted pairs comprising:
 two individually insulated conductors, wherein the insulation formed around each of the two conductors comprises one or more first polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant; 
 
 physical indicia selectively formed on the insulation of at least two of the plurality of twisted pairs, the physical indicia formed on only a single conductor within any given twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs and the physical indicia comprising colorant that occupies less than 5.0% of a surface area of the insulation on which it is formed, wherein the physical indicia facilitate identification of the plurality of twisted pairs; and 
 a jacket formed around the plurality of twisted pairs, wherein the jacket comprises one or more second polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant. 
 
     
     
       10. The cable of  claim 9 , wherein the physical indicia comprise one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
       11. The cable of  claim 9 , wherein the physical indicia comprise one of (i) dots or (ii) stripes. 
     
     
       12. The cable of  claim 9 , wherein the physical indicia comprise:
 a first physical indicia formed from a first colorant on the insulation of a first conductor of a first twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs; and 
 a second physical indicia formed from the first colorant on the insulation of a second conductor of a second twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs, wherein the second physical indicia is visibly distinct from the first physical indicia. 
 
     
     
       13. The cable of  claim 9 , wherein the physical indicia comprise:
 a first physical indicia formed from a first colorant on the insulation of a first conductor of a first twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs; and 
 a second physical indicia formed from a second colorant different than the first colorant on the insulation of a second conductor of a second twisted pair included in the plurality of twisted pairs. 
 
     
     
       14. The cable of  claim 9 , wherein the physical indicia further facilitate identification of the individual conductors included in each of the plurality of twisted pairs. 
     
     
       15. The cable of  claim 9 , wherein the physical indicia comprise physical indicia selectively formed on respective outer surfaces of the insulation of each of the plurality of twisted pairs. 
     
     
       16. A cable, comprising:
 four twisted pairs, each of the four twisted pairs comprising:
 two individually insulated conductors, wherein the insulation formed around each of the two conductors comprises one or more first polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant; 
 
 first physical indicia selectively formed on the insulation of a first of the four twisted pairs; 
 second physical indicia selectively formed on the insulation of a second of the four twisted pairs, wherein the first and second physical indicia respectively comprise colorant that occupies less than 5.0% of a surface area of the insulation on which it formed, and wherein the physical indicia facilitate identification of the four twisted pairs; and 
 a jacket formed around the four twisted pairs, wherein the jacket comprises one or more second polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant. 
 
     
     
       17. The cable of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first or second physical indicia comprise one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
       18. The cable of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first or second physical indicia comprise one of (i) dots or (ii) stripes. 
     
     
       19. The cable of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first physical indicia is formed from a first colorant; 
 the second physical indicia is formed from the first colorant; and, 
 the second physical indicia is visibly distinct from the first physical indicia. 
 
     
     
       20. The cable of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first physical indicia is formed from a first colorant; and 
 the second physical indicia is formed from a second colorant different than the first colorant. 
 
     
     
       21. The cable of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 third physical indicia selectively formed on the insulation of a third of the four twisted pairs; and 
 fourth physical indicia selectively formed on the insulation of a fourth of the four twisted pairs, 
 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth physical indicia facilitate identification of the individual conductors of the four twisted pairs.